Reconstituted tobacco composition

ABSTRACT

This invention is for a new composition of matter comprising tobacco and at least one gum selected from the group consisting of film-forming, polar solvent soluble ether, ester and mixed ether-ester substituted galacto-mannan gums. The process for preparing the new composition comprises mixing the tobacco, preferably in finely divided form, a polar solvent and the gum and agitating the mixture until a homogeneous composition is attained. Generally, in use, the composition is then formed into a sheet by conventional means, the sheet product having improved properties and which may be commercially used in smoking articles, especially a wrapper for cigars which has excellent wet strength as well as being more resistant to enzymatic degradation.

United States Patent Schmidt [54] RECONSTITUTED TOBACCO COMPOSITION [75]Inventor: Otto K. Schmidt, So. Windsor,

Conn.

[73] v Assignee: AMF Incorporated, White Plains,

[22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 191,895

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Industrial Gums (text) by Roy L. Whistler and JamesN. BeMiller (1959) published by the Academic .1111 3,821,959 [451 July2,1974

Press pages 366-370 inc especially cited Primary ExaminerMelvin D. ReinAttorney, Agent, or Firm-George W. Price; Charles 1. Worth [5 7]ABSTRACT This invention is for a new composition of matter comprisingtobacco and at least one gum selected from the group consisting offilm-forming, polar solvent soluble ether, ester and mixed ether-estersubstituted galacto-mannan gums. The process for preparing the newcomposition comprises mixing the tobacco, preferably in finely dividedform, a polar solvent and the gum and agitating the mixture until ahomogeneous composition is attained.

Generally, in use, the composition is then formed into a sheet byconventional means, the sheet product having improved properties andwhich may be commercially used in smoking articles, especially a wrapperfor cigars which has excellent wet strength as well as being moreresistant to enzymatic degradation.

4 Claims, N0 Drawings 1 TOBACCO COMPOSITION BACKGROUND This inventionrelates to a new composition of matter. More particularly, the inventionrelates to a tobacoo and adhesive composition and tobacoo sheet materialforrned therefrom and wherein the adhesive is a substitutedgalacto-mannan gum.

It is to be understood that in its broadest aspects the inventionencompasses a composition of tobacco and the substituted gaIacto-mannangum set forth. However, for the sake of simplicity and illustrativepurposes, the invention is disclosed more fully as it is used in theform of sheet material and in which form its beneficial aspects andadvantages may most easily be utilized.

In the manufacture of tobacco sheet material, finely ground tobacco isusually admixed with aqueous gum solutions to form a paste-like masswhich is then formed into a continuous sheet by conventional means.Preferably, naturally occurring polysaccharides like Locust Bean andGuar Gum are used as the adhesives for tobacco sheet. These naturallyoccurring galactomannan gums are preferred over Methycellulose gum. Forexample, for a number of reasons they are easily cross-linked therebyrendering the tobacco sheet mois ture resistant. Consequently, wetstrength of considerable magnitude can thus be imparted to'the tobaccosheet. This wet strength is of special importance for tobacoo sheetwhich is to be used as wrapper for cigars in order that the head of thecigars do not disintegrate in thesmokers mouth and thus they have therequired chewability.

Another advantage of polysaccharides of the galactomannan class overother water soluble gums derived from cellulose is their inherent highviscosity and the subsequent good strength of films made from such gumsparticularly when the films are made from either Locust Bean Gum, GuarGum or combinations thereof. Moreover, the fact that thesegalacto-mannans are food approved additives and, as such, findwidespread application in food preparation, enhances their desirabilityeven further as adhesives for tobacco sheet manufacture, since tobaccoproducts are also designed for human consumption. This added aestheticvalue lends, therefore, further'weight to the preference of Locust Beanand Guar Gum for use in tobacco sheet manufacture.

However, in spite of the preference for employing these gums in tobacoosheet manufacture, they are afflicted with certain characteristics whichrestrict their application in commercial use. For example, aqueousadhesive preparations made therefrom have a limited shelf-life. Inaddition, in plant practice is has been found that aqueous suspensionsof Guar and Locust Bean Gums lose their viscosity and, consequently,their capability of forming strong films into which large amounts offinely ground tobacco may be incorporated. This loss in viscosity iscaused by the action of naturally occurring enzymes which areintegralparts of the plant seeds from which the gums are made. Although thedegree of enzymatic activity of these naturally occurring gums can beregulated to a certain extent by the milling process employed, cleavageof the molecular chain, with resultant viscosity reduction of aqueousgum suspensions through inherent enzymatic activity cannot be completelyeliminated. Furthermore, deactivation of such gum native enzymes bychemical means is largely undesirable as this may introduce substancesinto tobacco sheet material in which they are used which are undesirablefor aesthetic and/or health reasons.

The loss of viscosity and subsequent film forming capability as theresult of enzymatic reactions generally limits the useful shelf-lifeunder production plant conditions to from five to twenty hours.Occasionally, the useful shelf-life is further drastically reduced bymicrobial spoilage, thus giving rise to considerable material losses, aswell as costly disruption of the continuous tobacco sheet manufacture;

A comparison of the viscosity profile of food grade Locust Bean Gumagainst that of a good technical grade Locust Bean Gum will illustratethe relationship between purity of gum to sol stability. Gum suspensions(aqueous) at 2 percent solids content were prepared in the laboratory.The solutions were kept at ambient upon temperature and viscositydeterminations performed at periodic intervals on a BrookfieldViscometer, Model RVF with a No. 4 spindle at 70F. 75F. and 20 rpm. Thefollowing results were recorded:

AGING TIME/HOURS GUM TYPE BROOKFIELD VISC. CPS

Grade: LBG 3800 5400 5200 2750 2400 340 III I (Food Grade) Grade:'Techn. LBG

I200 I500 I300 650 520 0 The date shows that the food grade gum producessols of greater viscosity, being, therefore, less susceptible toenzymatic degradation than the gum prepared from a good technical gradeof Locust Bean Gum.

Sol degradation by gum native enzyme reactions is not limited to LocustBean Gum alone. Similar circumstances prevail for Guar Gum also. Eventhough the speed with which the enzymatic reactions take place in GuarGum solutions is slower, degradation of viscosity occurs nonetheless, asshown by the following data.

The test method was the same as given for Locust BeanGum andalso'involves sols of 2 percent solids content.

VISCOSITY PROFILE OF GUAR GUM SOLUTIONS AGING TIME/HOURS GUM TYPEVISCOSITY-CPS *GradezGuar 24000 35000 34000 17500 8200 *GradctGuar 270037000 32000 31400 I6000 7000 'Food'Grade Gum The vulnerability ofgalacto-mannan gums to degradation is further increased when theadhesive preparations made from them come into intimate contact withtobacco which is enzymatically active and thus, capable of degradingaqueous suspensions of polysaccharides. The extent to which theenzymatic activity of tobacco affects the viscosity of gum solutions canbe shown by the result of the following investigation.

A laboratory method to determine theenzymatic effect of tobacco on theviscosity of aqueous gum suspensions consists of the followingprocedure.

One hundred grams of tobacco are steeped in tap water for one hour. Themother liquor is decanted and screened through a cheesecloth pad. Onehundred grams of this tobacco extract is then added to an aliquot of agum suspension, prepared either from Locust Bean Gum or Guar Gum. To thecontrol portion of the gum solution lOOgms. of tap water is added tomaintain identical gum. concentration in the samples. The test solutionsare placed in a water bath of 9598F and viscosity measurements arecarried out as set forth above at predetermined time intervals.

DEGRADATION OF LBG SOLUTIONS BY TOBACCO ENZYMES BROOKFIELD VlSCOSlTY/CPSTime/Min. Control Test 3480 3200 30 3650 I520 60 3230 860 90 2850 580 I2580 4 l O The gum used was LBG l/ 11 (food grade) and the tobacco wasBroadleaf Lot No. C213 in this series of measurements.

The degradation of galacto-mannan gums by tobacco enzymes has been ofconcern to tobacco sheet manufacturers and known methods or operatingprocedures used to overcome this problem include pasteurization ofaqueous tobacco suspensions prior to their contact with adhesivepreparations or the elimination of enzymatic activity by means ofheating tobacco in an atmosphere of formalin to deactivate tobaccoenzymes. Among the obvious disadvantages of such tobacco treatment areloss of most of the desirable smoking quality by tobacco so treated andneed for capital expenditures for tobacco treatment equipment as well assubsequent economic disadvantages, resulting from increased labor andhandling costs.

There exists, therefore, a need to overcome the above mentioneddisadvantages when using galactomannan gums in tobacco compositions.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with theinvention there is provided a composition of matter comprising tobaccoand at least one gum selected from the group consisting of filmforming,polar solvent soluble ether, ester and mixed ether-ester substitutedgalacto-mannan gums which is made by a process comprising mixing thetobacco and gum with agitation in the presence of a polar solvent toform an homogeneous mixture which may then be con- 1 4 verted to a filmor sheet by casting and removing the solvent at elevated temperature.

Any derivatized galacto mannan gum may be employed in a composition ofthe invention. However, the derivatives of naturally occuringgalacto-mannan are preferred and of these derivatives, Locust Bean Gumand Guar Gum are the most preferred.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the galacto-mannan gums as employed in acomposition of this invention are substituted, the substituents beingderived from ethers and esters which may be present on the galactomannanmaterial as either similar or dissimilar substituent groups, that is,where:

1. one of more of the available and replaceable hydroxyl groups of thesugar moiety is replaced by the same functional ether groups, such asmethyl galactomannan, and the like;

2. more than one available and replaceable hydroxyl group of the sugarmoiety is replaced by different functional ether groups, such as methylhydroxypropyl galacto-mannan, ethyl hydroxypropyl galacto-mannan, andthe like;

3. the same as l and 2 except that the groups introduced are estergroups; and v 4. more than one available and replaceable hydroxyl groupof the sugar moiety is replaced by different functional groups, such asethers and esters to form for example, methyl acetyl galacto-mannan andthe like.

Consequently, a wide variety of ethers and esters can be obtained asderivatives of the galacto-mannans. Compounds of this type are known,some being commercially available, and are prepared by proceduressimilar to those employed for producing'like derivatives from cellulose.

Generally preferred in the practice of the present invention, however,are the lower alkyl types of these compounds, that is, those containingfrom I to 3 carbon atoms. Consequently, these materials generally formthe hydroxyalkyl and alkylhydroxyalkyl substituted galacto-mannan gumswith the lower alkyl types, that is those containing from 1 to 3 carbonsin the alkyl groups substituted on Locust Bean Gum and Guar Gum beingthe most preferred in the practice of this invention. Specific examplesof substituted gums of this type are hydroxypropyl Guar Gum,methylhydroxyethyl Locust Bean Gum, methyl-hydroxyethyl Guar Gum,propylhydroxymethyl Guar Gum and similar substituted galacto-mannan gumswhich are film-forming, polar solvent soluble galacto-mannan gums.

In a composition of the invention, the amount of tobacco and gum mayvary within wide limits, being compatible in all proportions. As apractical matter, however, enough tobacco is employed so that thecomposition has an effective tobacco content. Consequently, the tobaccois employed generally in a range of from about 20 percent to 90 percentby weight, based on the total weight of the composition and preferablyfrom about percent to about percent by weight.

As mentioned above a polar solvent is employed in preparing suspensionsand/or slurries to make sheet material. A wide variety of polar solventsmay be employed. These include water, the lower alcohols and esters.Examples of the lower alcohols are methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propylalcohol and the like as well as the lower esters, such as methylacetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate and the like. Moreover, the totalamount of tobacco and gum in polar solvent can vary widely beingcompatible in all proportions with at least enough present to form aslurry or suspension. As a practical matter, however, slurries and/orsuspensions containing from about 8 percent to 20 percent by weight oftobacco and gum, based on the total weight of the mixture, that is,tobacco, gum and solvent can be used, with the preferred solids contentbeing in a range of from about 10 percent to percent.

It is generally desirable, although not absolutely necessary, to employa cross linking agent when water is a component of the system in acomposition of the invention in amounts generally less than 0.5 percentby weight, to improve the moisture resistance of sheet material madetherefrom. Any of the known cross linking agents, such as glyoxal forexample may be used.

tobacco enzymes.

The sheet so obtained can be shredded or otherwise comminuted and usedas cigar or cigarette filler or formed into plugs for pipe tobacco andis also useful as cigar wrapper exhibiting excellent wet strength.

The substituted gums discussed in detail hereinabove not only areexcellent adhesives which are more resistant to enzymatic degradationbut also exhibit greatly increased viscosity in aqueous suspensions.

Comparison of viscosity data obtained on 2 percent aqueous gum solutionsclearly illustrates this fact, as well as the much improved solstability of the modified gums against their underivatized gumcounterparts.

Test procedures given above were adhered to and the following viscositydata recorded:

COMPARATIVE viscosirv MEASUREME'NTS 2% GUM SOLS AGING TIME/HOURS GumType 0 S 24 28 44 48 120 Control Grade L130 3800 5400 5200 2750 g 24001840 340 1/1 1 L80 Grade 1200, 1500 1300 650 520 332 0 Tec HEM No. I10000 21000 25200 21400 25500 25200 23100 HEM No. 2 15800 24000 2800028500 24200 23400 24000 HPG No. 492 22000 31400 33200 35000 34200 3160029600 Control (iuur D/l- 24600 35000 34000 17500 8200 (72Hr) Legend;1.80 1/1 1 Food Grade Locust Bean Gum LBG Tec Techn. Grade LBG HEM No. lHydro'xyethyl Locust Bean Gum HEM No. 2 Hydroxyethyl Guur Gum HPG No.492 Hydroxypropyl Guar Gum The csrs d monsof the invents arapupmasymixing the tobacco in finally divided form with the substituted gum inthe presence of the solvent and agitating the mixture until homogeneityis obtained. Agitation can be carried out at widely varying temperatureranges from the freezing point to the boiling point of the mixture. As apractical matter, however, the mixture is generally agitated at atemperature in a range of about 70F. to about 75F. until homogeneity isattained. On the other hand, to form a product such as a sheet material,any conventional sheet forming process may be employed. Preferably thecomposition is then cast in the form of a film on a heated metal beltwhich travels through drying ovens at a temperature sufficient to driveoff the solvent that is, about 150F. to about 195F. at a belt speed in arange of about 15 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to obtain asheet material containing tobacco and gum as adhesive.

It is preferred, however, that in making a composition of the inventionthe gum is dissolved in part of the solvent and the tobacco, in finelydivided form, is then suspended in the remainder of the solvent.Subsequently the two mixtures are combined to form the final slurry. Onthe other hand, the tobacco and solvent can be mixed and the gumsubsequently added thereto to make the final composition. These stepsare recommended where the composition is to be held for an extendedperiod of time before making a sheet material thereof, since it preventsany possible degradation by The data show a nearly five-fold viscosityadvantage with the substituted Locust Bean Gum over the natural LocustBean Gum at maximum hydration stage after 20 hrs. This is, indeed,striking and this newly acquired property is further enhanced by thestability of the sols over a time period of at least 120 hrs.

Althou gh the improved viscosity of the chemically substituted gums andtheir resistance to gum-native enzymatic degradation is of great valuein tobacco sheet manufacture because of the newly acquired greater .filmstrength and the longer shelf-life of adhesive preparations, it has alsobeen found that these much desired properties are further supplementedby yet another property, namely, the greater resistance of the sols ofsubstituted gums against tobacco enzymes. The results of laboratorytests illuminate the full extent of the novel effect of chemicalsubstitution. For the determination of resistance of enzymaticdegradation, a highly enzymatically active Broadleaf Tobacco, Lot No.C213, was used.

Gum suspensions at 2 percent solids were prepared. To 300 cc of thesesols, there were added 25 gms of mesh Broadleaf Tobacco, Lot No. C213.The constituents were mixed in a Warning blender. The test specimentswere held in a water bath of 97 98F. and the viscosity was measured atpredetermined intervals in the same manner as set out above. Thefollowing results were obtained.

Time/Min. LBG Control LBG & Tobacco Substituted LBG Blank C213 & TobaccoC213 Q 3480 CPS 2630 CPS 37000 CPS 30 3650 CPS 530 CPS 29800 CPS 60 3230CPS 220 CPS 23600 CPS 90 2850 CPS I40 CPS 21000 CPS 120 2580 CPS 100 CPS17400 CPS The stability of the substituted galacto-mannan gum againstdegradation by tobacco enzymes, as clearly shown by this data, is, ofcourse, of great value in tobacco sheet technology since it eliminatespremature spoilage of the adhesive preparations which might be caused bycontaminants in the form of airborne tobacco dust particles amongstothers.

The present invention offers numerous advantages. For example, the filmforming strength and the capacity of the gum film to bind largequantities of tobacco into a useful tobacco foil is related to theviscosity grade of the gums employed in tobacco sheet. manufacture.Experience has shown that films made from higher viscosity grade gumsexhibit superior strength characteristics than like films derived fromlower viscosity grades. The improved film strength is further shifted infavor of the high viscosity grades since the gum films have to be loadedwith comparatively large amounts of tobacco in tobacco sheetmanufacture. The considerable viscosity increase of chemically modifiedLocust Bean Gum and the subsequently greatly improved film strength andloading capacity is of great value for the manufacture of tobacco sheetproducts, since it results in increased tobacco content in the sheetwhile maintaining the necessary strength as required for industrialapplication of tobacco sheet.

The increased viscosity and subsequent greater loading capacity yieldyet another beneficial effect, characterized by the fact that thetobacco sheet made from the improved gums, exhibits greater elongationand the stress-strain curves of tobacco sheets become more like those ofnatural leaf. This improvement in the physical characteristicstranslates itself into better machinability of the tobacco sheet,resulting in the improved wrapping of complicated cigar shapes.

Another improvement in tobacco sheet technology arising from the use ofchemically modified gums, as related to greater film strength, is thefact thatthe amount of cellulosic fibers may be reduced by as much as 40percent without the loss of sheet strength. Cellulosic material inhighly fibrilated form, is an essential part of tobacco sheetcomposition and functions mainly as a reinforcing media of the tobaccoloaded gum films. Since the quantity of cellulose fiber contained in acigar wrapper sheet can affect the stretch and pliability properties ofwrapper sheet proportionately, the reduction of the fiber content is ofprofound value. Thus, the workability of the tobacco sheet can begreatly enhanced and improved taste and smoking pleasure results fromthe diminished cellulose content in the tobacco sheet.

In order to illustrate the invention more fully, the following examplesare given. In the examples all parts and percents are by weight unlessotherwise stated.

EXAMPLE I Adhesives were prepared in the pilot plant by makingaqueoussolution of unsubstituted Locust Bean Gum and Hydroxyethyl Locust BeanGum in identical amounts of 2 parts of gum in the solutions. Theunsubstituted gum solution was used on the control. The control solutionalso contained 0.8 parts of highly refined cellulose and the testsolution 0.6 parts and both solutions also contained 0.05 parts ofglyoxal and 6.8 parts of finely divided tobacco. The tobacco, gum andwater were mixed in a tank at ambient temperature (about F to F) to forma homogeneous composition containint 71 percent to 72 percent tobacco ona bone dry basis.

The compositions so formed were then cast as films on a stainless steelbelt moving at a rate of 60 feet per minute. The belt was passed throughdrying ovens and was heated by impinging steam on the underside of thebelt to bring the temperature to about F to remove the water and tobaccosheets were formed. The sheets were suitable for cigar wrapper and hadthe physical properties set forth in the following table.

The breaking strength and wet braking strength were determined on aScott Tester.

Run No. 16 Control Run No. 225 Test Cigar Transv.

Comparison of the breaking strength values exemplifies the weaknessofthe tobacco wrapper sheet made from natural Locust Bean Gum. In fact,its structural weakness did not allow for satisfactory cigarmanufacture. Poor rolling of the bunch, accompanied by tearing of thewrapper at the tuck end of Perfecto shaped cigars, made. this wrappersheet unusable. By comparison, thecigar wrapper made from hydroxyethylLocust Bean. Gum worked well on the cigar machine. Torn tucks wereabsent and improved rolling of the bunch with less tuck and bodywrinkles made for a wellformed cigar. The overall cigar appearance wasjudged superior by experts.

The cigars made with hydroxyethyl Locust Bean Gum were given to anexpert smoking panel which reported on the improved smoking quality ofthe test cigars, commenting favorably on the noticeable reduction of-acellulosic burn aroma.

EXAMPLE 2 Example 1 was repeated except that in the adhesive for wrappersheet production, the gum was Hydroxyethyl Guar Gum. The content ofhighly refined cellulose pulp in the adhesive preparation was againproportioned to be 0.6 parts of the total gum content and the tobaccocontent was 70 percent bone dry basis.

Wrapper sheet was made as in Example 1. The end product in the form ofcigar wrapper tobacco sheet, was subjected to the normally performedphysical testing, the results of which are tabulated below.

EXAMPLE 3 An adhesive for wrapper sheet production was prepared as inExample 1. The gum employed was Hydroxypropyl Guar Gum. The content ofhighly refined cellulose pulp in the adhesive preparation was againproportioned to be 0.6 parts of the total gum content and the tobaccocontent was 70 percent bone dry basis.

Wrapper sheet was made as set out in Example 1. The end product in theform of cigar wrapper tobacco sheet, was subjected to the normallyperformed physical testing, the results of which are tabulated below.

EXAMPLE 4 An adhesive composition for the manufacture of wrapper sheetwas prepared as in Example 1. The gum employed was unsubstituted,normally used Food Grade Guar Gum. The content of cellulose fibers wasadjusted to be in this case one part to one part of the total gumcontent and the tobacco content was 7O percent bond dry basis. The gumfiber ratio conforms most closely to a standard wrapper sheet formula,and serves therefore, as a control for the substituted Guar Gums used inExamples 2 and 3.

A tobacco sheet was formed as in Example 1 and subjected to physicaltesting, the results being tabulated in the following table:

The data show that the various tobacco wrapper sheets have comparativestrength properties. The reduction of the pulp content form one part to0.6 parts, which would normally cause a decrease in the wet strengthvalues and thereby render the tobacco wrapper sheet unusable, is fullyovercome by the greater film strength and loading capacity of thesubstituted galacto-mannan gums.

The cigar wrapper sheets were further subjected toan evaluation fortheir capability to wrap a complicated Perfecto shape cigar. In a sideby side comparison of the wrappers on a cigar machine, the wrapper madeaccording to Example 2 and the wrapper made according to Example 3, werepreferred over the control, made according to Example 4.

The preferences manifested themselves in:

a. Smoother, wrinkle-free body rolling;

b. Proficient tuck formation, free of pockets;

0. Good head formation, free of shoulder wrinkles.

The overall appearance of the test cigars in comparison with the controlcigars was that of a product of generally improved workmanship.

In analogy to Example 1, an expert smoking panel passed judgment on thesmoking quality of the cigars.

In each case, the reduction of cellulosic burn aroma was cited as animprovement of considerable magnitude, in addition to the more faultlessappearance of cigars made with the substituted galacto-mannan gums.

The tobacco products of this invention may be cigar wrapper, cigarbinder and cigar or cigarette filler, and generally, contain more thantwo-thirds by weight, of tobacco, and may contain four-fifths or moretobacco.

They are made by a method which combines tobacco with an adhesivepreparation and the composition of the latter governs to be aconsiderable extent the end use of the final product. Whether one dealswith cigar wrapper, cigar binder, cigar filler, or cigarette filler, thebinding agent, as in this application, is indeed the basis of the sheetformation concept. The demonstrated improvements in the viscositycharacteristics, sol stability and resistance to enzymatic degradationapplies, therefore, to all tobacco products and is not restricted to anyform or manner to the examples set forth.

The term film-forming as employed in this Specification and in theappended Claims is to be understood to mean a material, natural orsynthetic, which will form a system with a polar solvent and which hasthe additional property of being loaded with another substance which ithas the ability to bind into a continuous film when cast from the systemformed with the solvent.

Regardless of when a natural tobacco or a tobacco substitute is employedin a composition of this invention, it is utilized in a comminuted orfinely divided form prior to sheet formation. Moreover, a composition ofthe invention may include humectants, flavors and other additives, suchas foaming agents and the like, if desirable.

It is evident from the above that a composition of this inventionpresents many advantages. Moreover, numerous variations of the inventionmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.Consequently, it is to be understood that theinv'ention is not to belimited to the disclosed embodiment except as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A tobacco composition in the form of a continuous sheet consistingessentially of finely. divided tobacco and. gum as an adhesive, theproportion of tobacco based upon the weight of the composition rangingfrom about 20 to percent by weight, the said gum being selected from thegroup consisting of film-forming polar solvent-soluble ether, ester andmixed etherester substituted galactomannan gums.

2. The tobacco sheet of claim 1, wherein said gum is selected from thegroup consisting of hydroxyalkyl and alkylhydroxyalkyl substitutedgalactomannan gums.

3. The tobacco sheet of claim 1, wherein said gum is selected from thegroup consisting of hydroxymethyl locust bean gum, hydroxyethyl locustbean gum, hy-

Disclaimer 3,821,959.--0tt0 K. Schmidt, So. Wifidsor, Conn.RECONSTITUTED TOBAC- Q CO COMPOSITION. Patent dated July 2, 1974.Disclaimer filed Dec.

29, 1980, by the assignee,'AMF Incorporated.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims l through 4, of said patent.

[Ofi'icial Gazette September 14, 1982.]

2. The tobacco sheet of claim 1, wherein said gum is selected from thegroup consisting of hydroxyalkyl and alkylhydroxyalkyl substitutedgalactomannan gums.
 3. The tobacco sheet of claim 1, wherein said gum isselected from the group consisting of hydroxymethyl locust bean gum,hydroxyethyl locust bean gum, hydroxypropyl locust bean gum,ethylhydroxyethyl locust bean gum, methylhydroxyethyl locust bean gum,propylhydroxymethyl locust bean gum, hydroxymethyl guar gum,hydroxyethyl guar gum, and hydroxypropyl guar gum.
 4. The tobacco sheetof claim 1, wherein said gum is hydroxyethyl locust bean gum.